Turkey is a natural energy bridge and an energy hub between energy sources in the Middle Eastern and Caspian Regions and European Union (EU) energy markets. Turkey's development as an energy hub will be to the benefit of both Turkey and the EU.

EU and Turkey attach great importance (in)to cooperating in the field of energy. Both as a candidate country currently engaging in accession negotiations with the EU and a contributor to the EU’s energy security, Turkey has made important progress in aligning its legislation with the “acquis communautaire”. The screening of Turkey’s energy legislation against the “energy acquis” has been completed. In this regard, Parties have both agreed to improve cooperation and their policy dialogue in the energy sector, which plays a key role in their relations. Turkey and the EU have stated their willingness to cooperate further for securing and diversifying their energy supplies and for ensuring competitive energy markets. To this end, Turkey and the EU, represented by Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Taner YILDIZ, and Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Union, Maros SEFCOVIC, have launched today the High Level Energy Dialogue. They agree to hold the High Level Energy Dialogue at ministerial level on a more regular basis, at least once a year. The next dialogue will include all relevant energy sectors such as gas, electricity, nuclear, renewables, energy efficiency and climate action, in particular with a view to the preparations to COP21 in Paris; it will take place still this year with the participation of Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner YILDIZ and European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias CAÑETE. This dialogue should be underpinned by regular exchanges at the level of the working groups initiated in 2012. The launching of the high-level dialogue also clearly reflects the commitment of the European Commission, as reflected in its recently adopted Energy Union Framework Strategy of 25 February 2015, to establish strategic energy partnerships with increasingly important energy producing and transit countries.

In order to strengthen their security of supply, Turkey and the EU are promoting as partners the development of the Southern Gas Corridor. Both Parties will continue to cooperate to implement the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) Project. TANAP is of vital importance for the EU’s and Turkey's security of supply and for the realization of the Southern Gas Corridor. The development of Turkey as a regional natural gas hub is of mutual interest and was taken up in the EU – Turkey Strategic High Level Energy Dialogue.

A regular exchange of information on energy cooperation at the global and regional level would be to the benefit of both sides.

Turkey and the EU reiterate that the dialogue is not a substitute to, but a complement and support of Turkey's accession process.